Closure for opened ends of wrapped bread loaves



Dec. 23, 1952 mu 125G 2,622,760

CLOSURE FOR OPENED ENDS 0F WRAPPED BREAD LOAVES Filed Nov. 28, 1949 N On u JNVENTOR. l/EEA D. /(I5S/G ,I- TTOIY/V Patented Dec. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES EPATENT OFFICE oLosnRE .FQROPENED-ENDS WRAPPED BREAD LOAVES Vera D. Kissig, West Los Angeles, Calif. zapnlie ionN vemb 28, 9. 9,,Seria1 12 3 7 '7 Claims. 1

This invention relatesto closures. IIts object is to provide a" device ,ior closing .the open end of the wrapper of ,;a loaf :95 bread wh has been opened. The invention contemplates-a closure device adapted to serve as a closure for the open end of the loaf as the loafgradually used up, excluding airy and keep n the-bread in a fresher and cleaner. sta tethanis ordinarily possible.

In general, 4 the invention .conten -plates .closure comprising .a pair :of sections hinged together along a centrall-transversehingelaxis, together with means vfor; yield-ingly urging the sections' in a direction 3130 21:113 theendof-aloai of bread so that the closure willcling lthereto. A particular object .is gtO providesuch-a closure which is of relatively =simple and inexpensive construction so thatitmay'be utilizedagapremium item and/or sales itemzin flarious retail outlets. Another abject .is to provide such a closure which adapts itself particularly to be molded from plastic or the equivalent material in order that the device may be produced with an attractive finish in various selected colors-and shades.

A further object is:to provide such a closure having means-whereby it may bemanipulated by one hand while a loaf :of ab -read isheld in" the other hand, thereby-facilitatingth application of the closure to and the removal of the closure.

from, the breadloaf. v Aiurther object is to provide such a closure embodying a.hingestrncture having maximum sealin cfiiciency. Another object is to provide,inslmhlagclosure, an arrangement in which the :meansyforyieldingly-biasing the closure sections toward eachcthermay fierve the added function .of an elementfor-securing the sections together 'nrafisembly.

ther biectswill'bec meapparent in-theensuing specifications and appendeddrawings which:

Fig. 1 is a;.s ectional':view' illustrati gr-onejiorm of my mproved-zclosure'zappliedat :a: loaf :of bread;

Fig. 2 is an end view of therclosure;

Fi 3 :is a transverse vertical2sectiona1 :view of the closure; *withithe .sections thereofam positions drawn towardeach other. taken onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is :a .transversewertical sectional .-.view of the closure'with' thewsectionszthereofiin extended positionstakenon theiline, vll.-.4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a 1 detail sectional view through. the hinge structure :of:t.h.e closure. -.sho.w ing ihowgthe two sections may .bezassetnbled;

.Fig. .6 is .aninner end view of a modifiedform of the closure;

Fig. '7 is a side viewof the same partially in section as indicated .by the line l.-l of Fig. .6; and

Fig-8 is a fragmentary inside end view of anothermodified form of the closure.

As an example of one form in which the invention may be embodied, I have shown in Figs. 1 to .5 inclusive va closure comprising a bottom section A, and a top section B hingedth ereto along a hinge axis parallel to therbottom ofsection A and substantiallymldway betweenthe top and bottom of the closure.

Bottom section A includes a rear wall It), a bottom flange l and two side flanges l2 of rectangular shape. Bottom section A also includes .a hinge trunnion 13 in the form of integral beads on the upperedge-of end wall Hi.

Top section B includes an end wall J4, an arched top flange l5, and side flanges l6 forming downward continuations of the arched top flange l5. Iop section B also includes a downwardly opening substantially semicylindrical channel 11 extending arcuately somewhat more than degrees, sufficiently to embrace trunnion l3 with a grip which prevents radial separation of the respective hinge elements l3 and 11, although permittingfree hinging movement. Tothis end, the inner wall of channel ll will fit. the Wall of .trunnions 13 with slight clearance to permit hinging movement.

.Closure sections A and B are formed with fingergrips l8 and i9, projecting rearwardly from the central extremities of end walls 10 and I4 respectively, .near the ,hinge of .the closure. Hinge channel IT has its outerleg cutaway at the center of the closure to define a notch 20 which finger grip 5.8 maybe partially received .when sections A and B arespread as in Fig. 4. .Trunnion l3 has in its rear side, at the center of the closure, a notch 2| which receives thecentral portion of a leaf spring 22 by means of which thesections are connected. in assembledrelationthrough a slot 26 in finger grip I9 and, particularly in the relative positions of the sections shown in Fig. 3, is accommodated in notch 2| in hinge trunnion I3. Finger grip I8 is so shaped, at its base, as to provide a recess 28 in which the outer sections of hinge channel I! may be received when the closure sections are in the relative positions shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Leaf spring 22, in its unstressed condition, has its upper half bent forwardly relative to the lower half as in Fig. 3, but with a somewhat greater amount of bend. Accordingly, spring 22 constantly biases section B toward the retracted position shown in Fig. 3, in which the two sections A and B are drawn or pressed toward each other to a maximum extent. The limit of such retracting movement is determined by the engagement of lugs 21 on the inner walls of upper section side flanges I6, engaging against the upper edges of side flanges I2 of bottom section A. The spring 22 is capable of being flexed past center to the reversely bent condition shown in Fig. 4, in which there is maximum spread between the sections A and B. This position is determined by the engagement of IS and I9 against each other as indicated in Fig. 4. In this spread condition of the sections, the closure will readily encompass the end of any ordinary loaf of bread 33 (Fig. 1) and, upon release of the closure, sections A and B will be urged by spring 22 into gripping engagement with the loaf as indicated in Fig. 1, like pressure being exerted against the loaf by bottom and top flanges I I and I5 respectively. This gripping of the loaf serves to retain the closure in place upon the opened end of the wrapper, thus closing the opened end and largely excluding air as well as dust and bacteria therefrom.

Fig. 5 illustrates how these two sections may be assembled. As indicated in Fig. 1, hinge channel i 'i is open at its ends. By disposing the two sections in the relative positions of angularity shown in Figs. 4 and 5, one end of hinge channel I I may be slipped over the opposite end of hinge trunnion I3 with the lower edges of side flanges I6 disposed above the upper edges of side flanges I2, so that the adjacent flanges may clear each other. Hinge channel I! may then be slipped onto hinge trunnion I3 by relative axial movement of the two, until side flange I5 meets side flange I2 at the opposite side of bottom section A, when, by again raising top section B until lower edge 29 clears side flange I2, the sections may be shifted into their positions of flnal assembly shown in Fig. 2. The sections are then hinged toward each other to the positions of Fig. 3, and spring 22 is inserted through slot 26 in finger grip I9 and into pocket 24 of boss 23. By springing it toward the hinge, its upper end may then be engaged beneath lug 25. Lug 25 may be slightly recessed so as to retain the upper end of spring 22 more securely, although it will be understood that the tension in spring 22 will normally retain it against displacement from beneath the lug 25. In the use of the closure, finger grips I8 and I9 are grasped between the thumb and fingertips and pressed into engagement with each other to bring the section to the extended positions of Fig. 4. The closure is then simply slipped over the open end of a loaf of bread and the finger grips I8, I9 released to allow the closure to grip the loaf. To remove it, the handles I8, I9 are again grasped and move toward each other to release the grip of the closure against the loaf and the closure is then simply pulled off the end of the leaf.

The lower edges 29 of side flanges I6 are inclined downwardly at an obtuse angle relative to end wall It, so that side flanges l5 may overlap side flanges I 2 throughout the range of relative movement between the sections, up to the limit positions of expanding movement shown in Fig. 4.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. '7, the hinge channel IIa may be semicylindrical, with its respective lips spaced apart the full diameter of trunnion I'Ia so as to permit assembly of the sections by relative radial movement. The hing sections are held in assembly by a rubber band 30 which engages a pair of hooks 3| formed on the inner faces of end walls It], I 4 respectively. Side flanges I6a of upper section B have heel portions 32 which engage ears 33 extending, in the plane of wall Iila, from the respective sides of section A. Rubber band 33 serves the dual function of holding the sections in assembled relation and yieldingly urging them toward their retracted positions shown in Fig. '7.

Fig. 8 illustrates another modification of the invention in which sections A and B are formed with intercepting hinge loops 34 and 35 respectively, a hinge pin 36 being passed through the registering loops. A mouse trap type spring 31 encircles hinge pin 36, in a notch 38 defined between the two hinge loops 35, and has its end portions engaged against the rear walls Nb and IUD respectively of sections B and A.

The upper extremity of the socket 24 of Figs. 1-5 is flared rearwardly and thereby widened, as indicated in Fig. 5, whereby the central portion of spring 22 is allowed to bend over a sufficiently broad area in being flexed to the position of Fig. 4, to avoid a sharp bend at the center of the spring, beyond its limit of elasticity, and to preserve the full extent of forward bend in the spring, which is utilized in pressing the sections against a bread loaf. If the spring were flexed beyond its elastic limit by the reverse bending of the normally forward bend at the center of the spring, it would obviously reduce this forward bend and thereby weaken the closing bias acting between the sections.

Other types of hinges and springs may, if de sired, be employed. The closure sections may be of molded plastic material, the use of such material being particularly appropriate, although it is possible to form the sections from sheet metal.

I claim:

1. In a closure for the opened end of a wrapped bread loaf, a pair of closure sections each including an end wall and a flange extending around three sides thereof, leaving a fourth side open and bordered by a free edge on said end wall, each of said flanges including a pair of spaced, substantially parallel lateral portions and an intermediate bridging portion, one of said sections having a hinge trunnion formed along its free edge and the other having a hinge channel formed along its free edge, said hinge channel receiving said hinge trunnion and embracing the same, the lateral flange portions of one closure section being embraced between those of the other closure section, in overlapping relation, so as to prevent axial movement of the sections relative to each other thereby to'retain them in assembly, said bridging flange portions being arranged in opposed relation and. functioning as a pair of jaws to grip the end portion of a loaf of bread, and resilient means acting between the sections to urge them toward each other in order that they may cooperatively grip the loaf, said sections being capable of being hinged relative to each other toward spread positions in which the adjacent edges of said'sideportions of the flanges will clear each other in order to permit assembly and disassembly of the sections by sliding'said hinge channel axially along said hinge trunnion.

2. In a closure for the opened end of a'wrapped bread loaf, a pair of closure sections each having an end wall and a flange extending around three sides thereof, each of said flanges including a pair of spaced, substantially parallel lateral portions and an intermediate bridging portion, the lateral flange portions of one closure section being embraced between those of the other closure section, in overlapping relation, said bridging flange portions being arranged in opposed relation and functioning as a pair of jaws to grip the end portion of a loaf of bread, one of said end walls having a hinge trunnion along its free edge, the other having a hinge channel along its free edge. receiving said hinge trunnion and embracing the same so as to prevent separation of the sections radially with reference to the hinge axis, and a leaf spring having respective end portions attached to the respective end walls and resisting axial movement of the hinge elements relative to each other, thereby to hold said sections in assembly, said leaf spring urging said sections toward each other whereby they may yieldingly grasp the loaf.

3. In a closure for the opened end of a wrapped bread loaf, a pair of closure sections each including an end wall and a flange extending around three sides thereof, leaving a fourth side open and bordered by a free edge on said end wall, one of said end walls having along its free edge a hinge trunnion and the other having along its free edge a hinge channel receiving said hinge trunnion and embracing the same so as to prevent separation of the sections radially with reference to the hinge axis, a pair of finger grips integrally formed on the respective end walls adjacent the hinge members and projecting rearwardly for engagement by the fingertips to move said sections toward spread postions for freely receiving the opened end of a bread loaf, one of said sections having a boss extending downwardly from the base of its finger grip and internally recessed to form a pocket, the other section having finger grips provided with an aperture registering with said pocket, and a leaf spring extending through said aperture and having one end received in said boss, the other end of said spring bearing against the rear side of the other section and acting to urge the sections toward each other whereby they may yieldingly grasp a bread loaf between them, said spring by its engagement in its pocket and in said aperture, securing the sections against relative movement axially of the hinge.

4. In an end closure for the opened end of a wrapped bread loaf, a pair of closure sections each having an end wall and a flange extending along three Sides thereof, leaving a fourth side open and bordered by a free edge on said end wall, each of said flanges including a pair of spaced, substantially parallel lateral portions and an intermediate bridging portion, one of said end walls having a hinge trunnion along its free edge and the other having a hinge channel along its free edge, said channel loosely receiving said hinge trunnion so as to be separable therefrom by relative movement between the sections radially with reference to the hinge axis, the lateral flange portions of one closure section being embraced between those of the other closure section, in overlapping relation, said bridging flange portions being arranged in opposed relation and functioning as a pair of jaws to grip the 'end portion of a'loaf of bread, saiden'd walls being formed withhooks on their inner sides, in opposed relation in respectivesidesof the hinge axis, and resilient tension means having its respective ends hooked around said hooks and yieldingly urging said sections toward each other to cause said bridging flange portions to grip the loaf, said tension means further functioning for maintaining said hinge channel in embracing relation'to said hinge trunnion.

5. In a closure member for the opened end of a wrapped bread loaf, a pair of closure sections each having an end wall and a flange extending around three sides thereof and leaving a fourth side open and bordered by a free edge on said end wall, each of said flanges including a pair of spaced, substantially parallel lateral portions and an intermediate bridging portion, the lateral flange portions of one closure section being embraced between those of the other closure section, in overlapping relation, said bridging flange portions being arranged in opposed relation, and functioning as a pair of jaws to grip the end portion of a loaf of bread, the free edges of the respective end walls being provided with axially aligned hinge loops, a hinge pin extending through said loops to form a hinge, two of said loops being spaced apart to form a spring receiving notch, and a mouse trap type spring coiled around the hinge pin within said notch and having its respective end portions engaged against the respective end walls to urge said sections toward each other so that they may yieldingly grasp the end of abread loaf.

6. In a closure for the opened end of a wrapped bread loaf, a pair of closure sections each including an end wall and a flange extending around three sides thereof, leaving an open fourth side bordered by a free edge on said end wall, each of said flanges including a pair of spaced, substantially parallel lateral portions and an intermediate bridging portion, one of said end walls having at its free edge a hinge trunnion, the other end wall having at its free edge a female hinge element receiving said hinge trunnion to provide a hinged connection between the closure sections, the respective closure sections havin socket members opening toward said hinged connection and spaced therefrom, the lateral flange portions of one closure section being embraced between those of the other closure section, in overlapping relation, said bridging flange portions being arranged in opposed relation and functioning as a pair of jaws to grip the end portion of a loaf of bread, and a spring having arms engaging the respective end walls and having the end portions of said arms engaged in the respective sockets, said spring yieldingly biasing the sections toward each other for gripping the loaf.

7. In a closure for the opened end of a wrapped bread loaf, a pair of closure sections each having an end wall and a flange extending around three sides thereof, leaving a fourth side open and bordered by a free edge on said end wall, hinge means joining said free edges for hinging move ment of the closure sections relative to one another, each of said flanges including a pair of spaced, substantially parallel lateral portions and an intermediate bridging portion, the lateral flange portions of one closure section being embraced between those of the other closure section. in overlapping relation, said bridging flange portions being arranged in opposed relation and functioning as a pair of jaws to grip the end por- 7 tion of a loaf of bread, and means yieldingly UNITED STATES PATENTS urging said sections toward each other so as to Number Name Date cause said bridging flange portions to grip the 1 124 875 Dishmaker Jan 12 1915 loaf between them, said sections cooperatively de- 1753500 Burleigh 1930 fining a sure f cap shape having an open side 5 Primas May 14, 1940 lecelve 2,287,903 Rathbun June 30, 1942 VERA KISSIG- 2,476,564 Rosen July 19, 1949 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 10 file of this patent: 

